Mel Teti Naturopathy Privacy Policy

Current as of: 27/06/21

Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our clients, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.

Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a client of our practice, you provide consent for us to access and use your personal information so we can provide you with the best possible Naturopathic healthcare. If we need to use your information for anything else which is unlikely, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Your personal information will be collected and held primarily to provide Naturopathic services to you. The main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. We may also use it for related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation.

What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes your:

1. names, date of birth, addresses, contact details, email address
2. medical and health information including medical history, supplements, medications, allergies, adverse events, social history, family history and risk factors
3. blood tests and other pathology testing if relevant
4. Current health status such as your presenting health complaint and signs and symptoms of health and disease

How do we collect your personal information?
We may collect your personal information in several different ways.

1. When you book in to make an appointment
2. Prior to your initial consultation via an online intake form
3. During naturopathic consultations
4. Through communication you make with us via any of the following: our website contact form, email, telephone, SMS, in person at the clinic, at public health workshops and events, and/or social media messages.
5. Personal information may be collected from parents/guardians for persons under the age of 18.

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?
On the rare occasion we may share your personal information:

5. with other healthcare providers who we may refer you to
6. when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas)
7. when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
8. to assist in locating a missing person
9. to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
10. for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
11. when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than while providing naturopathic health care services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing or simply by unsubscribing from our newsletter.

Our practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services we offer to our patients through research and analysis of our patient data.

How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information is stored on SimpleClinic Online Software. SimpleClinic Online is a Service provider of practice management software for Naturopathic Practitioners and Complementary Health Care Providers in the Australia/New Zealand region. Please see their privacy policy here: https://docs.simpleclinic.net/patient-privacy-policy/. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every Site you visit. Mel Teti Naturopathy has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Emails from clients which may contain personal information are stored on a secure server.

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their health records. We require you to put this request in writing via email to mel@meltetinaturopathy.net.au and our practice will respond within 30 days.

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing via email to mel@meltetinaturopathy.net.au.

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have via email to mel@meltetinaturopathy.net.au. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure within 30 days. We will endeavour to resolve the complaint as quickly as possible, but if the matter is complex and our investigation may take longer, we will let you know when we expect to provide our response.

If you are unhappy with our response, you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Privacy and our website
Our site does not use cookies and does not collect or store information. The information from visitors who use our website’s contact form is sent to our secure email provider.

Links to Other Sites
Our Site may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every Site you visit.  Mel Teti Naturopathy has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Social Media
Some information may be collected from social media via messages if for an example you are requesting a booking or to contacted for more information. Personal information such as name, email address and/or phone number may be collected to perform the request of the individual.

Policy review statement
This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this Site. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this Site.